TY - JOUR PY - 2009// TI - The Psychology of Women's Partner Violence: Characteristics and Cautions JO - Journal of aggression, maltreatment and trauma A1 - Graham-Kevan, Nicola SP - 587 EP - 603 VL - 18 IS - 6 N2 - This article provides an overview of research on women's partner violence as well as the literature that investigates the developmental pathway to women's aggressive behavior. While women are known to commit partner violence toward their male partners, the prevalence and motivations for such behavior is still debated. Evidence that finds gender symmetry is reviewed and alternative literature discussed. Research challenging the conceptualization of women's partner violence as self-defensive is explored. The literature on the veracity of women partner violence offenders' explanations for their aggression is contrasted with the tendency within the literature to treat women's accounts as unproblematic. Alternative explanations for women's aggression are discussed with a focus on personality traits of psychopathology. Implications for interventions are also discussed.

LA - SN - 1092-6771 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10926770903103131 ID - ref1 ER -